1-800-TAXICAB: a National Taxicab Solution
25 October 2000
LOS ANGELES - 1-800-TAXICAB announced today the activation of a nationwide toll-free number that passengers across the United States can call at no charge to be connected immediately with local taxi companies. By pinpointing the location of callers, the company routes calls directly into the dispatching centers of its nationwide network of ground transportation providers. "1-800-TAXICAB is the easiest number to get a taxi," said 1-800-TAXICAB Chief Executive Officer, Mark Adkins. "Anywhere you are and everywhere you go, this toll-free number instantly puts you in touch with a taxi dispatcher." Passengers can also access the 1-800-TAXICAB network of taxis through a broad array of technological platforms, including wireless web phones, PDAs, and an online order form. Through an agreement with Go2Systems, the 1-800-TAXICAB service is available on Sprint PCS, Nextel, and Verizon web phones. In a separate arrangement with OmniSky, a 1-800-TAXICAB application for PDAs is available for Palm Vs, as well as on Palm VIIs. "Our mission is to provide the greatest level of convenience for travelers who need to find a taxi," said Adkins. "That's why we made it a point to be the first nationwide taxi referral service to be available online, the first to be positioned on wireless web phones, and the first to release an application for PDAs." While pursuing these technological innovations, the company's primary competitive advantage is its telephone number. "Well over ninety percent of all taxi reservations are placed over the telephone, and that's where our service excels -- anyone can call 1-800-TAXICAB from any phone to get a taxi." The company intends to capitalize on its telecom brand by building out the functionality of its services. "We are working to make our applications even more dynamic by giving users the ability to order airport shuttles and limousines, as well as to access other useful information for travelers, such as flight information and weather," said Adkins. The company is developing an IVR platform with attributes of the voice portals, such as voice recognition and targeted advertisements. At the same time, 1-800-TAXICAB is also structuring its service as an application for other voice portals. "We have had great interest in our service from some of the leading voice portals," said Adkins. "Our exclusive contracts with taxi companies give us the tremendously valuable ability to monetize these calls." The 1-800-TAXICAB network of taxi companies comprises the industry's most prominent players, including Coach USA, a holding of Stagecoach PLC, which is North America's largest taxi concern with a fleet of approximately 5000 vehicles in 19 cities. "Our goal is to ensure that our service gives callers access to the very best taxi companies," said Adkins. The company has also added several leaders of the taxi industry to its advisory board, including several presidents of North America's largest ground transportation trade association, the Taxicab, Limousine, and Paratransit Association. The company intends to provide membership benefits to taxi companies enrolled on the 1-800-TAXICAB network. "Vendors in the taxi industry have approached us to gain access to the approximately 20,000 taxis on our network, and we're well-positioned to negotiate discounts for our members," said Ted Sichelman, President of 1-800-TAXICAB. "We want to pool the resources of our members so that even the smallest taxi company can enjoy large economies of scale. We intend to make 1-800-TAXICAB the leading brand for all taxi services."